BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 702
	By: Perry
	Transportation
	5/24/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, license plates have the plate number printed on the license plate. Therefore, license plate numbers are not raised. Historically, license plates were stamped and the plate numbers were raised on the plate, this is called an embossed plate.

Most drivers may never have noticed that Texas transitioned away from embossed plates to printed plates more than a decade ago, but classic car collectors were extremely disappointed when the state discontinued making embossed plates.

The proposed legislation simply allows car owners to be able to purchase embossed license plates if they choose to do so. No person would be required to purchase an embossed license plate and the standard default option would still be a printed plate. However, this bill will allow classic car collectors to fully restore cars with historically accurate embossed plates.

S.B. 702 amends current law relating to the sourcing, marketing, and sale of certain license plates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.851(i), Transportation Code, as follows:

(i) Requires that a contract entered into by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles with a private vender under Section 504.851 (Contract with Private Vendor) meet certain requirements, including that it allow for the establishment of a range of premium embossed specialty license plates to be sourced, marketed, and sold by the vendor. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.